[Activist's archive of materials supporting antiwar GIs at Fort Jackson, South Carolina] by [Fort Jackson 8] - 1969

Columbia, SC; New York: GIs United Against the War in Vietnam; Columbia Draft Information Center; GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee, etc., 1969. Group of twenty-one documents generated by activists supporting the prosecuted servicemen, together with some related newspaper clippings. Most items are 8.5x11 inches, uneven toning to some, often with crinkling and other wear. Includes the following documents: "Support the Fort Jackson 8," 10 pages; a six-page packet reprinting the "Complaint for declaratory judgment, injuctive and mandatory relief" filed by several servicement agianst the commanding general; a packet from the Student Mobilization Committee that includes three press releases from the GIs United Against the War in Vietnam; four additional single-sheet leaflets from the GIs United; a worn and stained leaflet from the Student Mobilization Committee that includes a reprinted NYT article citing the Fort Jackson 8; a typed carbon copy of a letter on onionskin paper to the commanding general of Fort Jackson, from the Southwide Mobilization Against the War in Vietnam and for Self-Determination, with typed signatories including Julian Bond, John Lewis, and others; five different documents from the GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee in New York about its efforts related to the case; a February 1969 issue of the Support newsletter from Columbia, SC, and issue no. 3 of the Short Times, a GI newsletter from Columbia, both with articles about the case; and lastly, a leaflet announcing an appearance by Jose Rudder and Joe Cole, two of the Fort Jackson 8, after they had been released from the stockade. In addition to these printed materials there are three handwritten notes, one from Jose Rudder and two from Joe Cole, to Nelson [Blackstock], the activist who assembled this archive, thanking him for assistance; two handwritten notes from an attorney which were used as cover letters for sending notes from Joe Cole because his mail was being censored; as well as a letter to Joe [Cole] from "Cliff" expressing support for the case, covered with doodled human portraits and dampstained. There is a group of newspaper clippings and reproduced articles about the case which are not counted as part of the total. The Fort Jackson Eight were members of GIs United Against the War in Vietnam, which started as a Black and Puerto Rican club for listening to Malcolm X tapes, then opened to white members and included Young Socialist Alliance activists. They were put in the stockade for their activism, resulting in a concerted effort by outside activists to support their case. The GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee in New York, which offered support, was associated with the Socialist Workers Party. The case was a landmark in the struggle for the rights of servicemen to express opposition to the Vietnam War.